Hanged vs Hung: Understanding the Difference

"Hanged" and "hung" are both past tense forms of the verb "hang," but they're used in different contexts. The distinction is important, especially when referring to execution by hanging. This comprehensive guide will help you use each word correctly.

Quick Answer

• Hanged = execution by hanging (death penalty or suicide by hanging)
• Hung = suspended, attached, or displayed (objects, pictures, decorations)

The Base Verb: Hang

Before understanding the difference, let's review "hang":

Verb Forms of Hang:

For Objects (Regular in Modern Usage):

• Present: hang
• Past: hung
• Past participle: hung

For Execution (Irregular):

• Present: hang
• Past: hanged
• Past participle: hanged

Hanged: Definition and Usage

Hanged is the past tense and past participle of "hang" when referring to execution by hanging or suicide by hanging.

When to Use Hanged:

Use "hanged" only when referring to death by hanging (execution or suicide).

Context: Legal executions, capital punishment, suicide, or death by hanging

Examples of "Hanged":

Legal Execution:

• The criminal was hanged for his crimes.
• They hanged him at dawn.
• He was hanged by the neck until dead.
• Three conspirators were hanged in 1865.
• The murderer was sentenced to be hanged.
• Public hangings were common before they were hanged privately.

Historical Context:

• Witches were hanged in Salem in 1692.
• The spy was hanged for treason.
• Pirates were often hanged at the docks.
• He was hanged, drawn, and quartered.
• Many were hanged during the war.

Suicide by Hanging:

• He hanged himself in despair.
• She was found hanged in her cell.
• The actor hanged himself at age 30.
• Tragically, she hanged herself.

Figurative Legal Context:

• They'll hang him out to dry. (future - base form "hang")
• If caught, he'll be hanged. (future passive)
• The jury hanged itself. (deadlocked - metaphorical)

Common Patterns with "Hanged":

• Was/were hanged
• To be hanged
• Sentenced to be hanged
• Hanged by the neck
• Hanged until dead
• Hanged for treason/murder
• Hanged himself/herself
• Public hanging (noun form)

Hung: Definition and Usage

Hung is the past tense and past participle of "hang" for all other meanings not related to execution.

When to Use Hung:

Use "hung" for:

• Suspending objects
• Displaying pictures or decorations
• Clothes hanging to dry
• Anything attached to a wall or ceiling
• Physical suspension of any non-execution context

Examples of "Hung":

Pictures and Decorations:

• She hung the picture on the wall.
• We hung the decorations yesterday.
• He has hung photos throughout the house.
• The painting was hung in the gallery.
• They hung lights on the Christmas tree.
• I hung the mirror in the hallway.

Clothes and Laundry:

• She hung the clothes on the line.
• He hung his coat in the closet.
• I hung up my jacket.
• The dress was hung to dry.
• They hung towels on the rack.

Physical Suspension:

• The sign hung above the door.
• Curtains hung from the rod.
• A chandelier hung from the ceiling.
• Vines hung over the fence.
• The banner hung across the street.
• Icicles hung from the roof.

Body Position:

• He hung his head in shame.
• She hung her arm out the window.
• The dog hung its tongue out.
• I hung upside down from the bar.

Staying/Spending Time (Informal):

• We hung out at the mall.
• He hung around after class.
• They hung out together all summer.
• I hung back and waited.

Computers/Phones:

• The computer hung (froze/stopped responding).
• My phone hung up (call ended).
• The program has hung.

Other Contexts:

• The jury hung (deadlocked - some say "hanged" metaphorically).
• Smoke hung in the air.
• Fog hung over the valley.
• The question hung unanswered.
• Doubt hung over the proceedings.
• The room was hung with tapestries.

Key Differences

Hanged	Hung
Execution by hanging	Everything else
Death penalty	Suspending objects
Suicide by hanging	Pictures, decorations
"He was hanged for murder"	"I hung the picture"
Legal/historical executions	Everyday uses
Person executed	Objects suspended
Very specific usage	General usage
Past: hanged / Past participle: hanged	Past: hung / Past participle: hung

Memory Tricks

1. The "A" in Hanged = dAnger/deAth

• HANGED has an "A" for fAtAl (death)
• HANGED = cApitAl punishment

2. People vs Things

• HANGED = People (execution/suicide)
• HUNG = Things (objects, pictures)

Mnemonic:

• "People are hanged, pictures are hung"

3. The Grim Rule

• If someone died by hanging → HANGED
• If something was suspended but not fatal → HUNG

4. Legal/Historical Context

• Legal execution or suicide → HANGED
• Everything else → HUNG

5. The Dark Humor Memory Aid

• "Art is hung, criminals are hanged"
• "Paintings are hung, pirates are hanged"

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Incorrect Usage:

1. The picture was hanged on the wall. (Wrong!)
2. He was hung for his crimes. (Wrong - unless slang!)
3. She hanged the decorations. (Wrong!)
4. The criminal was hung at dawn. (Wrong!)
5. I hanged my coat in the closet. (Wrong!)
6. The witch was hung in Salem. (Wrong!)
7. We hanged out at the park. (Wrong!)
8. The curtains were hanged yesterday. (Wrong!)

Correct Usage:

1. The picture was hung on the wall.
2. He was hanged for his crimes.
3. She hung the decorations.
4. The criminal was hanged at dawn.
5. I hung my coat in the closet.
6. The witch was hanged in Salem.
7. We hung out at the park.
8. The curtains were hung yesterday.

Slang Exception:

In slang, "hung" can refer to male anatomy, which is why "He was hung for his crimes" could be misunderstood as a vulgar joke. Always use "hanged" for executions to avoid ambiguity!

Detailed Examples in Context

Hanged (Execution/Suicide):

Historical Executions:

• Hanged in 1865, the conspirators paid for their crime.
• During the witch trials, many innocent people were hanged.
• The pirate was hanged from the yardarm.
• In medieval times, thieves were often hanged.
• The revolutionary was hanged as a traitor.
• Public executions where people were hanged drew large crowds.

Legal Sentences:

• He was sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead.
• The court ordered that he be hanged.
• Capital punishment meant being hanged.
• If found guilty, they would be hanged.

Suicide:

• The prisoner hanged himself in his cell.
• She tragically hanged herself.
• He was found hanged in the barn.
• The note suggested he intended to hang himself.

Figurative/Metaphorical:

• The jury hanged (some prefer "hung" here - jury deadlock metaphor).
• They'll hang him out to dry if he fails.

Hung (Objects, Pictures, Everything Else):

Home Decoration:

• I hung family photos in the living room.
• She hung new curtains in the bedroom.
• We hung a wreath on the door.
• He hung the mirror above the fireplace.
• They hung paintings throughout the gallery.
• The chandelier was hung from the ceiling.

Clothes:

• She hung her dress in the closet.
• I hung the wet towels to dry.
• He hung his suit on the door.
• Laundry was hung on the line.
• She hung up her coat.

Physical Actions:

• He hung his head in disappointment.
• She hung over the railing.
• The child hung upside down.
• I hung onto the rope.
• They hung on every word.

Informal/Social:

• We hung out at the beach.
• He hung around the coffee shop.
• They hung together all weekend.
• I hung back and observed.

Abstract/Metaphorical:

• Silence hung in the air.
• A cloud of suspicion hung over him.
• The question hung unanswered.
• Tension hung between them.
• Fog hung in the valley.

Technology:

• My computer hung and I had to restart.
• The application hung during the update.
• The phone call was hung up.

Historical and Legal Context

Capital Punishment:

Hanged has been the correct term for execution by hanging for centuries.

Historical Examples:

• Socrates drank hemlock but others were hanged.
• In Old West America, outlaws were hanged.
• War criminals were hanged after trials.
• Treason was punishable by being hanged.

Famous Cases:

• Saddam Hussein was hanged in 2006.
• The Nuremberg trials resulted in several being hanged.
• William Wallace was hanged, drawn, and quartered.
• Mary Surratt was hanged for Lincoln conspiracy.

Modern Usage:

While many countries have abolished capital punishment, "hanged" remains the correct term when discussing historical executions or countries where hanging is still practiced.

Grammar Rules

Active vs Passive Voice:

Hanged:

• Active: The state hanged the criminal.
• Passive: The criminal was hanged by the state.

Hung:

• Active: She hung the picture.
• Passive: The picture was hung by her.

Verb Tenses:

Hanged (Execution):

• Present: They hang criminals (rare in modern context)
• Past: They hanged him yesterday
• Present Perfect: They have hanged three people this year
• Past Perfect: They had hanged him before the pardon arrived
• Future: They will hang him at dawn

Hung (Objects):

• Present: I hang pictures often
• Past: I hung a picture yesterday
• Present Perfect: I have hung many pictures
• Past Perfect: I had hung the picture before you arrived
• Future: I will hang the picture tomorrow

Regional and Style Variations

American English:

• Strict distinction between "hanged" (execution) and "hung" (objects)
• "Hanged" is standard for executions

British English:

• Same distinction as American English
• "Hanged" for executions, "hung" for everything else

Legal Writing:

• Always uses "hanged" for executions
• Very precise about this distinction

Journalism:

• Follows the strict rule: "hanged" for executions
• Style guides insist on this distinction

Informal Speech:

• Some people incorrectly use "hung" for everything
• However, "hanged" is still preferred for executions in formal contexts

Special Cases

"Hung Jury":

A hung jury is a jury that cannot reach a unanimous verdict (deadlocked).

Usage:

• The trial ended with a hung jury.
• A hung jury resulted in a mistrial.

Note: Some sources prefer "hanged jury" as a metaphor (the jury "hanged itself"), but "hung jury" is the standard legal term.

"Well-Hung" (Slang Warning):

In slang, "well-hung" refers to male anatomy. This is why "He was hung" for an execution could be misinterpreted.

Avoid confusion: Always use "hanged" for executions!

"Hung Over":

Hung over or hungover means suffering from a hangover (after drinking).

Examples:

• I'm hung over from last night.
• He's badly hungover today.

"Hang-Up" (Noun):

A hang-up is a psychological issue or a terminated phone call.

Examples:

• He has a hang-up about money.
• There was a hang-up on the line.

Common Phrases

With "Hanged":

• Hanged by the neck
• Hanged until dead
• Hanged, drawn, and quartered
• Sentenced to be hanged
• Publicly hanged
• Hanged for treason/murder
• Hanged himself/herself

With "Hung":

• Hung out (spent time)
• Hung around (lingered)
• Hung up (ended call)
• Hung over (after drinking)
• Hung back (stayed behind)
• Hung on (waited; persisted)
• Well hung (slang - vulgar)
• Hung jury (deadlocked)
• Hung up on (obsessed with)
• Hung in there (persevered)
• Hung fire (delayed)
• Hung out to dry (abandoned)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word (hanged or hung) for each sentence:

1. The painting was _____ in the museum.
2. The traitor was _____ for his crimes.
3. She _____ the decorations for the party.
4. In 1692, suspected witches were _____ in Salem.
5. I _____ my coat in the closet.
6. The murderer was _____ at dawn.
7. We _____ out at the beach all day.
8. The clothes were _____ on the line to dry.
9. He _____ his head in shame.
10. The criminal was sentenced to be _____.
11. She _____ the new curtains yesterday.
12. The conspirators were _____ for plotting against the king.

Answers:

1. hung, 2) hanged, 3) hung, 4) hanged, 5) hung, 6) hanged, 7) hung, 8) hung, 9) hung, 10) hanged, 11) hung, 12) hanged

Cultural Sensitivity

Discussing Executions:

When discussing capital punishment or suicide by hanging, use "hanged" but be sensitive to the serious nature of the topic.

Appropriate:

• Historical discussion: "During the 1800s, many were hanged for crimes."
• Legal context: "Capital punishment by hanging meant being hanged."

Less Appropriate:

• Casual jokes about hanging
• Insensitive references to suicide

Modern Context:

Since many countries have abolished capital punishment, discussions of "hanged" are often historical or refer to countries where it's still practiced.

Etymology

Origins:

Both "hanged" and "hung" come from Old English "hon" (to hang).

Why Two Forms?

Historically, "hanged" was used specifically for execution because of its serious legal context. The distinction helped clarify whether someone died or if an object was suspended.

Evolution:

• Old English: hon (infinitive)
• Middle English: "hanged" for execution became standard
• Modern English: maintains distinction between "hanged" (death) and "hung" (objects)

Summary

HANGED:

• Execution by hanging (death penalty)
• Suicide by hanging
• Death-related hanging only
• Legal and historical executions
• "The criminal was hanged"
• "He hanged himself"
• Remember: People are hanged (execution/suicide)

HUNG:

• Everything else not involving death
• Suspending objects (pictures, decorations)
• Clothes hanging to dry
• Physical suspension (curtains, lights)
• Informal uses (hung out, hung around)
• Technology (computer hung, phone hung up)
• Remember: Objects are hung

Quick Decision Guide:

1. Is someone dying by hanging? → HANGED
2. Is it execution or suicide? → HANGED
3. Is it about objects, pictures, or decorations? → HUNG
4. Is it any other meaning of hang? → HUNG

The Simple Rule:

• People are hanged (when executed/suicide)
• Things are hung (objects suspended)

Conclusion

The difference between "hanged" and "hung" is significant and should be observed, especially in formal writing. Hanged is reserved exclusively for execution or suicide by hanging—when someone dies. Hung is used for everything else: suspending objects, displaying pictures, hanging clothes, and all other contexts where "hang" is used.

Remember the simple rule: "People are hanged, pictures are hung." This distinction is important not only for grammatical correctness but also for clarity and sensitivity, especially when discussing the serious topics of execution and suicide. Master this difference, and you'll avoid one of English's most commonly confused word pairs!